Pulse of the Caribbean

#75 Caribbean News Round Up Episode 4 Week of July 7

• Pulse of the Caribbean

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Caribbean nations continue to make significant strides in various sectors, from financial regulations to healthcare, sports, and cybersecurity, as highlighted in the latest episode of the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup. 

  • European Parliament formally removes Jamaica, Barbados from EU high-risk 
  • Bermuda and Grenada preparing to sign healthcare cooperation MOU for resource sharing
  • Dominican Republic maintains measles-free status with 90%+ vaccination rates
  • Cricket West Indies plans to establish regional governing body for Americas
  • Antigua and Barbuda launching National Computer Emergency Response Team in September
  • Legendary calypsonian Mighty Sparrow celebrates 90th birthday

Listen online at www.pulseofthecaribbean.com or your favorite streaming platform.

Send news releases to news@pulseofthecaribean.com. If you have an interest in sponsoring our podcast, email us at  biz@pulseofthecaribbean.com.

Speaker 1:

This is the Pulse of the Caribbean Caribbean News Roundup. Now today's Caribbean News Headlines. This podcast is brought to you by Varlic Ventures for convenient airport transfers and ferry service in the US Virgin Islands and Diamond Key Marina, yosvendak, british Virgin Islands, home of Foxy's Taboo and Gateway to the Bubbly Pool, a natural jacuzzi and hidden gem. Welcome to the Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 4 for the week of July 7th. Here's a look at what's making Caribbean headlines. We start our report today in Jamaica. The European Commission recommended that Jamaica and Barbados be removed from the EU's list of high-risk third countries for anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism funding, and the European Parliament endorsed this suggestion. Jamaica's Prime Minister, dr Andrew Holness, and Barbados' Prime Minister Mia Motley expressed concerns about delays in taking boat nations off the list, which led to the decision on Wednesday, july 9. Boat leaders pointed out that Jamaica and Barbados were still on the EU's high-risk list because of procedural issues in the European Parliament during their speeches at the recently concluded 49th regular meeting of the Conference of Heads of Government of the Caribbean Community, caricom, in Montego Bay, jamaica. Following the CARICOM meeting, the European Parliament announced in a statement that it had voted Wednesday, july 9th to not to object to the commission's proposal of updating the EU's list of high-risk third countries and territories with deficiencies in their regime on fighting money laundering and terrorist financing. As none of the resolutions on objections secured majority support, the United Arab Emirates, the Philippines, senegal, barbados, gibraltar, panama, jamaica and Uganda were consequently formally taken from the EU list. Our next stop is Bermuda. Bermuda and Grenada are ready to sign a memorandum of cooperation to address a health care staff and resource deficit. According to a report in the Royal Gazette, michael Dersham, ceo of fintech business Appiron, said the two island nations intended to build a digital platform for the first cross-border standard credentialing framework with his firm. The project facilitates health care resources and professional sharing. The Bermuda Health Council CEO, ricky Brathwaite, said the MOU will not immediately allow doctors or experts to work remotely between Bermuda and Grenada. Instead, it establishes mutual understanding and trust in credentialing processes. This could lead to more efficient regulatory processes like expedited verification or pooled resource planning. The MOU comes a year after Apiron launched a Bermuda Digital Medical Twin Healthcare Credentialing Application. A medical digital twin is a virtual data-driven depiction of a patient's body generated using medical records and other data to optimize therapy. Dr Dersham said Bermuda's healthcare stakeholders were close together, making it a good technology sandbox. Dr Brathwaite said an MOU positions Bermuda with willing partners as a leader in designing a digital, secure and portable credentialing system for the Caribbean.

Speaker 1:

Now on to the Dominican Republic. The Dominican Republic is still free of measles. The Dominican Republic's Ministry of Public Health says there have been no occurrences of local transmission since 2001. The Pan American Health Organization has stated that measles infections are on the rise across the Americas. In response, the Dominican Republic has stepped up its epidemiological surveillance. For more than 20 years, the General Directorate of Epidemiology and other technical health organizations have worked together to quickly rule out all suspected measles cases through clinical, epidemiological and laboratory testing. More than 1.6 million doses of measles, mumps and rubella vaccines have been given to children under two years old between 2020 and 2025. The children had the second doses at 12 and 18 months. The first dosage of the vaccine protects 93% of people, while the second dose protects up to 97% protects up to 97%. Vaccination coverage has stayed strong in the Dominican Republic, with more than 90% of people getting their first dosage and a big rise in number of people getting their second shot. During Vaccination Week of the Americas in 2022, 97% of children ages 1 to 5 got vaccinated, which is a high record.

Speaker 1:

Next up, it's Cricket West Indies. After Dr Kishore Shallow, president of the Cricket West Indies, visited Lima, peru, the organization announced plans to establish La Federacion de Cricket de las Americas. In a media statement, cricket West Indies stated that this proposed regional governing body will collaborate to organize the rapid growth of cricket across the Americas. With Cricket West Indies acting as, two young US teams are competing in its Rising Stars U-19 tournament in St Kitts, demonstrating ongoing partnership with North American neighbors. In November, four Caribbean senior cricket teams will compete in the Bolivarian Games in Lima, peru, a first for cricket as a symbol of entry into South American sports. Cricket would also be played at the 2027 Pan American Games, where Caribbean Olympic teams will compete. This step supports efforts to restore cricket to the Olympics, boosting regional recognition and growth.

Speaker 1:

Next up, antigua and Barbuda strengthens its cybersecurity. After this, visit stjohnticketingcom, the reliable go-to service for locals and visitors alike. Charlotte and Molly to Cruise Bay Ferry Service is now available at the Edward Wilmot Blyden Ferry Terminal located on the waterfront in downtown St Thomas, the fastest and most affordable way to travel when exiting the St Thomas Airport. Purchase your downtown ferry tickets and see departure times for Cruise Bay and downtown St Thomas on our website stjohnticketingcom. We'll be right back Ferry Terminal and on your trip back from the downtown ferry terminal to the St Thomas Cyril E King Airport, visit stjohnticketingcom, the reliable go-to service for locals and visitors.

Speaker 1:

This is DePulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode 4, for the week of July 7th. Antigua and Barbuda is taking substantial steps to bolster its cybersecurity infrastructure, including forming a National Computer Emergency Response Team, cert. Later this year, melford Nicholas, minister of Information Communication Technologies in Antigua and Barbuda, announced that the government-based CERT will be launched in September to manage cybersecurity across departments. Once operational, the government plans to expand efforts to include a national CERT for statutory agencies and private companies, including telecommunications. And here's our final note.

Speaker 1:

On Wednesday, slinger Francisco, the legendary Mighty Sparrow, who is widely regarded as the greatest Calypsonian at all times, turned 90. Tributes came in from around the Caribbean and beyond. The artist, who was born in Grenada and reared in Trinidad, has been in business for more than 60 years. He is acknowledged with changing the Calypso art form and inspiring generations of musicians. He was called the Calypso art form and inspiring generations of musicians. He was called the Calypso King of the World because of his quick humor, charming stage presence and outspoken social satire. He has won the Calypso Monarch title in Trinidad and Tobago a record eight times and is the only person to have received the Order of the Caribbean Community, the region's highest accolade. Sparrow was born in St John's, grenada, in 1935. He went to Trinidad when he was a toddler and started singing professionally when he was a teenager. Happy birthday, mighty sparrow.

Speaker 1:

This podcast has been brought to you by Varlic Ventures for convenient airport transfers and ferry service in the US Virgin Islands and Diamond Key Marina, yosvendike, british Virgin Islands, home of Foxy's Taboo and Gateway to the Bubbly Pool, a natural jacuzzi and hidden gem. Have news and information you'd like to share with us. Send news releases to news at pulseofthecaribbeancom and if you have an interest in advertising on our podcast, email us at biz at pulseofthecaribbeancom. This has been your Pulse of the Caribbean News Roundup, episode four for the week of July 7. Here's a shout out to our listeners in Trinidad and Tobago and the UK. Thanks for listening and do spread the word and share our podcast with others across the region and the diaspora. I'm Keisha Blyden. See you next time.

Speaker 1:

Visit stjohnticketingcom, the reliable go-to service for locals and visitors alike. Charlotte Molly to Cruise Bay Ferry Service is now available at the Edward Wilmot Blyden Ferry Terminal located on the waterfront in downtown St Thomas the fastest and most affordable way to travel when exiting the St Thomas Airport. Purchase your downtown ferry tickets and see departure times for Cruise Bay and downtown St Thomas on our website stjohnticketingcom. Safe, fast and affordable is the way to go. Designated taxi and transportation services are also available to pick you up from the airport and take you to the downtown ferry terminal. And on your trip back from the downtown ferry terminal to the St Thomas Cyril E King Airport, visit stjohnticketingcom, the reliable go-to service for locals and visitors alike. Thank you.